Thanks to all of you, we’ve made
great strides with “After The War.” The scenes and interviews that we filmed
last fall are insightful and deeply moving. The footage is beautiful. The story
is taking shape. We’re confident that the work we’ve accomplished to date provides a
strong foundation for the all the work ahead of us.

Even a cursory glance at the day’s
headlines reveals the staggering burden that soldiers and their families carry
in our names. We are committed to making a unique, compelling documentary that uncovers
the invisible wounds of war and intimately explores the complex question of
healing its trauma.

Recently,
however, we’ve come to the painful realization that we cannot base the film on
the life and work of Claude AnShin Thomas. While this significantly changes our
intended narrative, our work will continue. We’re immensely grateful to AnShin for
all we’ve learned from him about the real costs of war and the unsentimental
practice of non-violence.

Moving forward, the film will profile combat Veterans
from past and current conflicts who know war and
its consequences directly. They have fought, witnessed and sacrificed more than
we can fathom. Their lives have been forever changed; they wear their wounds on
the inside. As they share their personal journeys after the war, their courage
and candor provide entry to a powerful story of healing in an increasingly
violent world.

Tens of thousands of troops are expected home in
the next few years, generations of Veterans struggle silently with PTSD, and
calls for new wars echo the old. For all these reasons, we’re committed to
telling the story of “After The War.”

We thank you, most sincerely, for being part of this
effort from the very beginning, and for your continued interest today. We'll keep
you updated as the film progresses.

Someone said that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. By that definition, this is a message of pure gratitude to all of our backers. You've come from many different communities and all over the world. You've ignited the project with tremendous generosity and heart. You've energized us every day, in more ways than we can express. We're deeply grateful to you for providing the wonder of it all and for being with us from the start. This is not a "pretty story" but it will be a beautiful and important documentary. Thank you for making it happen.

We're also very grateful for the many kind comments we've received from old friends and new. We'll keep you posted on our progress via kickstarer and eventually on our own site. You can also check us out on facebook at AfterTheWarFilm.

Here's to the next big chapter and to all of our backers! We're thrilled to begin filming and developing the story this fall. We'll
be contacting you soon to make arrangements for delivery of your backer rewards. Today and always, thank you for helping us tell this story and for being part of 'After The War.'

‘After
The War’ tells the story of a courageous man who intimately knows the real cost of war, gives voice to those who carry its greatest burden and
says, unequivocally, "It doesn’t have to be this way.” It’s a timely story that needs to heard.

Thanks
to our backers, thanks to you, we begin filming on September 16th
with Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in Colorado. Later this fall we'll be on the road with
Claude AnShin Thomas. We’re moved and energized by the support you’ve shown
this project.

‘After
The War’ is in early production and has a long way to go. In the remaining
weeks of our Kickstarter campaign we’re working to raise $10,000. These funds are for creating a longer trailer that will develop the story
with the scenes we're filming this fall. It’s the next crucial step in the film’s progression and we aim to have it completed for grant committees by the new
year.

Raising
this amount will require 400 new pledges at the $25 dollar level, 200 at the
$50 level – the math is simple but times are tough. It’s going to take a
tremendous grassroots effort. We believe it’s worth every effort. We have until
September 5th, Labor Day, to make it happen. That's just over two weeks.

Every pledge is significant and after September 5th
we won’t ask again.

Thanks
for sticking with us. Thanks for being part of ‘After The War.’

Many
kind regards from Mary,
Henry and Sam

“I
know, unwaveringly, that violence is never the solution to humanity's problems
and that the real solution resides in the ethic and value of nonviolence.
Nonviolence is not, however, to be confused with being passive or complacent.
It requires us to live differently and demands great courage.” ~ Claude AnShin
Thomas

January 2011. Claude AnShin Thomas on retreat with Army Veterans from Chile, East Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the United States. Photo by Henry Jacobson.

Didn’t expect to be
writing again so soon, but the last couple of days have been extraordinary.

Because of your
generosity and genuine interest in ‘After The War,’ we’ve exceeded our goal!

And man oh man, are we
blown away …

To the Veterans, Monks,
friends and family who are supporting our effort and to many, many of you whom
we’ve not yet had the pleasure of meeting: THANK YOU! You’re all at the heart
of this film. You’re all making it possible. I shake my head in wonder every time
I look at our list of backers. Each and every one of you is a source of
inspiration and strength.

Although we now have the
funds to continue filming this fall, we're still in the thick of it for the next 61 days. In
our sights is an extended trailer, which we’ll need to present to grant committees
and potential investors as soon as possible. An invigorated campaign that
continues to garner interest and action will be our green light to the editing
room. We're up for the challenge, and as always we appreciate your help in spreading the word.